Sounders react to 1-0 win over Fire

Here are some Sounders quotes from after tonight's 1-0 win over Chicago. (These are provided from the Fire media staff, and I'll look through my notes for a couple of other interesting reactions that aren't included here.)

SIGI SCHMIDOn the match: “Tonight was one of those games where you pull up your sleeves and just battle and fight. We knew Chicago was going to come out with great intensity but for them it was a playoff game. We had to make sure we matched their effort and I thought we did a good job of that. I thought we created some chances off the counter, which we were able to do. We came close a couple of times, like on Montero’s header and Sanna’s [Nyassi] on the break. Eventually we got a goal from Blaise [Nkufo], which was a little bit fortunate. I thought defensively we were very solid tonight. For us, the focus for us is next weekend in Toronto, and the Open Cup final is right after that.”

On Nkufo’s play: “There were times where he helped us in possession in the second half and which allowed us to get some pressure off our back line which was very important. Obviously, Zakuani hit a great ball to [Nkufo] and put him through, and he basically did the rest. Sometimes that’s the way it is with the goal scorer. “

On logging nearly 18,000 travel miles in the past couple of weeks: “It’s been pretty impressive that we have to do that. Sometimes the guys don’t even remember what their room numbers are; they’ve been in so many different hotel rooms. Again, to come out of this at the end of the trip and to be playing our fourth game in 13 days and to come out with a one-nothing win was huge.”

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On Keller’s key saves: “There were some chances they had early and certainly Keller made an absolutely huge save. Maybe I am so used to seeing it from him over all the years you being to expect it. But that’s what great goalkeeper’s do; they come up with a key save that keeps you in the game. He certainly did that for us tonight.”

Defender JAMES RILEYOn the match: “I thought defensively whenever you hold a team to zero, it gives our team a chance to win. We did that. I thought both teams had some good opportunities and Keller made some big saves and we made some big defensive plays and we were able to get the goal. We’re very happy fortunate that way.”

On the game’s playoff implications: “I think both teams approached it like a playoff atmosphere, and that’s what it was. The tempo of the game was very high at times, but it got a bit chippy at the end. Overall I thought both teams competed very well, and kudos to them because they battled and threw guys forward. We bent but we didn’t break. The entire team defended well and made it difficult for them. The game’s dimensions changed when they took Calen Carr out and they had a more ‘post-up’ vibe with McBride and we were aware of that and tried to neutralize that. Freddy Ljungberg was buzzing around, Nyarko was buzzing around, Pappa was buzzing, and they had some good opportunities, so again we were fortunate to get out of here with a win. “

Midfielder STEVE ZAKUANIOn his assist: “It was on a counter attack. We missed a few chances so it was like, it’s either now or never. So I just sort of broke away and Blaise makes a good run, I found him out wide and he did the rest. He cut the guy well and shot the ball on frame and that’s all you can ask for. It takes a deflection but when the ball goes in the goal, we’ll take that at this stage. So that was a huge win coming in because it’s a tough place to play. Now we fly back with three points and that’s huge for the playoffs. “

Goalkeeper Kasey KellerOn the impact of his two early saves on the game: “You never know. Sometimes you have games where you concede a goal and it sparks your team and it gives you life, and other times it’s about keeping them in the game. I think it was a day where everyone did their job and I was called upon to make a few saves and I was able to make them today. It was nice. The key is with only a few games left we need to pick up as many points as we can to insure that we get ourselves in the playoffs. The last two away wins against Columbus and Chicago were huge because Kansas City keeps winning and San Jose keeps winning so we know that we have to follow suit.”

Forward Blaise NkufoOn Steve Zakuani saying the team kept believing a goal would come: “I think Zakuani was right, just like he says in games, ‘Next chance, next chance, it will come,’ and we will score a goal. That was the case. He gave me a great ball and I had the opportunity to score a goal.”

On his goal: “I received the ball on the left side, and I battled physically with the defenders. The goal was open and basically got lucky on the deflection but I’ve scored many goals like that in my career.”